Community Energy Schemes for Schools Across the UK
Community energy organisations are putting solar panels on school roofs right across the United Kingdom, from London boroughs to rural Somerset. These locally rooted cooperatives and community benefit societies raise investment from residents, install solar on schools at zero cost, and share the benefits with pupils, parents, and the wider neighbourhood. Here are the real organisations making it happen.
UK Community Energy Schemes at a Glance
Active Schemes
50+
Schools Benefiting
500+
Community Investment Raised
£50M+
Average School Saving
£3,000-8,000/yr
Overview: Community energy schemes operate year-round across England, Scotland, and Wales. They are open to all school types. Local residents invest through community share offers, and the returns are shared between investors, the school (via discounted electricity), and a community benefit fund that supports environmental and educational projects in the area.
What Are Community Energy Schemes?
Community energy schemes are locally owned renewable energy projects funded by community investment rather than commercial finance or government grants. In the context of school solar, a community energy group raises money from local people through a community share offer, uses those funds to install solar panels on a school roof, and then shares the financial and educational benefits among the school, the investors, and the wider community. The school pays nothing upfront and receives discounted electricity for the duration of the agreement, typically twenty to twenty-five years. At the end of the contract, ownership of the panels usually transfers to the school at no additional cost.
For a comprehensive explanation of how the community energy model works, including the legal structures, financial flows, and step-by-step setup process, visit our detailed community energy funding guide. This page focuses on the specific organisations operating across the UK that are actively working with schools today.
Leading UK Community Energy Organisations for Schools
The following organisations represent some of the most established and active community energy groups in the United Kingdom that have a proven track record of installing solar panels on school roofs. Each operates with slightly different geographical coverage, governance structures, and approaches, but all share the same core model of community ownership and shared benefit. If your school is located within the coverage area of any of these organisations, getting in touch is the fastest route to community-funded solar.
Schools Energy Co-operative
Location
Based in Bath, works nationally
Schools Served
50+ schools
Structure
Community Benefit Society
The Schools Energy Co-operative is one of the United Kingdom's most established community energy organisations dedicated specifically to schools. Based in Bath but operating across England and Wales, the co-op has installed solar panels on more than fifty schools since its founding. Their model is straightforward: they raise community investment through share offers, install solar on school roofs at no cost to the school, and provide each partner school with discounted electricity, energy monitoring dashboards, and curriculum resources linked to the solar installation. Investors receive a modest annual return, typically around three to four percent, and a community benefit fund distributes surplus revenue to local environmental education projects. The co-operative has raised millions of pounds in community shares and continues to expand its portfolio each year.
How to get involved: Schools anywhere in England and Wales can register interest directly through the Schools Energy Co-operative website. The co-op conducts an initial feasibility review at no cost and manages the entire process from share offer to installation.
Wey Valley Solar Schools
Location
Surrey and surrounding areas
Schools Served
10+ local schools
Structure
Community Benefit Society
Wey Valley Solar Schools focuses specifically on bringing community-funded solar to schools in the Surrey area and the wider south-east of England. As a locally rooted organisation, Wey Valley has built strong relationships with schools, governors, and local authorities in the region. Their approach emphasises close collaboration with each school, tailoring the installation to the building and ensuring that the educational benefits are woven into the school's existing curriculum plans. Each installation comes with an energy monitoring display that teachers can use in science, maths, and geography lessons. The local focus means that investors are often parents, neighbours, and community members with a direct connection to the schools benefiting from the panels.
How to get involved: Schools in Surrey, Hampshire, and the surrounding counties should contact Wey Valley Solar Schools directly. They welcome expressions of interest from any school in their catchment area and can advise on feasibility before any commitment is made.
South East London Community Energy (SELCE)
Location
Lewisham, Greenwich, Southwark
Schools Served
20+ schools
Structure
Community Benefit Society
SELCE has become one of London's leading community energy organisations, with solar installations on more than twenty schools across the boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Southwark. The organisation has raised significant community investment through multiple share offers, with individual investments starting from as little as one hundred pounds to ensure broad participation from residents of all income levels. Beyond the solar installations themselves, SELCE runs extensive educational programmes in partner schools, including energy awareness workshops, climate assemblies, and teacher training sessions on integrating energy data into the curriculum. Their community benefit fund has distributed tens of thousands of pounds to local environmental projects, fuel poverty advice services, and youth engagement programmes.
How to get involved: Schools in south-east London boroughs should contact SELCE directly. They regularly open new share offers when additional schools are ready for installation and maintain a waiting list of interested schools.
10:10 Climate Action / Solar Schools Campaign
Location
National (England and Wales)
Schools Supported
Hundreds of schools
Structure
Charity / Campaign Organisation
10:10 Climate Action runs the Solar Schools campaign, which takes a slightly different approach to traditional community energy by helping individual schools crowdfund for their own solar installations. Rather than a centralised share offer model, Solar Schools provides schools with a fundraising platform, toolkit, and support network to raise the money they need from their own community of parents, local businesses, and supporters. The campaign has helped hundreds of schools across England and Wales raise funds for solar panels, and the organisation provides ongoing support including energy monitoring tools, curriculum resources, and connections to a network of solar schools sharing best practice. This model works particularly well for schools with engaged parent communities and strong local connections, and it empowers schools to take direct ownership of the fundraising and installation process.
How to get involved: Any school in England or Wales can sign up to the Solar Schools platform. 10:10 Climate Action provides step-by-step guidance on launching a fundraising campaign, setting a target, and engaging the school community in the process.
Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE)
Location
Bath, North East Somerset, Wiltshire
Renewable Capacity
5MW+ community-owned
Structure
Community Benefit Society
Bath & West Community Energy operates one of the largest community energy portfolios in the south-west of England. BWCE has raised over ten million pounds in community investment and manages a diverse portfolio of solar installations across schools, community buildings, and commercial rooftops in the Bath and North East Somerset area and beyond. Schools working with BWCE benefit from electricity at rates significantly below market price, and the organisation's substantial community benefit fund has distributed hundreds of thousands of pounds to fuel poverty initiatives, energy efficiency advice programmes, and educational projects in the local area. BWCE's established track record and financial stability make them one of the most trusted community energy partners for schools in the south-west.
How to get involved: Schools in the Bath, North East Somerset, and wider Wiltshire area should contact BWCE to discuss whether their roof is suitable. BWCE also advises other communities looking to set up their own schemes.
Repowering London
Location
Brixton, Hackney, and wider London
Focus
Underserved communities
Structure
Community Benefit Society
Repowering London works specifically in underserved London communities, bringing community-owned solar energy to schools and community buildings in areas of high deprivation. Their model places particular emphasis on youth engagement, equitable access, and ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy reach the communities that need them most. Schools participating in Repowering London schemes receive not only discounted electricity but also dedicated youth engagement programmes, training opportunities for young people interested in careers in renewable energy, and curriculum support materials developed in partnership with local teachers. The organisation began with landmark projects on social housing estates in Brixton and has expanded across multiple London boroughs, including Hackney, Lambeth, and Tower Hamlets, consistently prioritising schools and community buildings in areas where fuel poverty and energy costs hit hardest.
How to get involved: Schools in London, particularly those in areas of higher deprivation, should contact Repowering London to discuss potential projects. The organisation also supports other communities in establishing their own local energy cooperatives.
Low Carbon Hub (Oxfordshire)
Location
Oxfordshire and surrounding counties
Community Investment
£5M+ raised
Structure
Community Benefit Society
The Low Carbon Hub is Oxfordshire's community energy organisation, managing a growing portfolio of solar installations on schools, community centres, and other public buildings across the county. The Hub has raised over five million pounds in community investment and installed solar on numerous schools in Oxford, Abingdon, Didcot, and the surrounding villages. Their approach combines the standard community energy model with a strong emphasis on whole-school sustainability, helping partner schools develop broader environmental strategies that go beyond solar panels to encompass energy efficiency, biodiversity, and sustainable transport. The Low Carbon Hub also operates an innovative community benefit fund called the Low Carbon Hub Fund, which provides grants to community-led environmental projects across Oxfordshire, many of which are based in or connected to local schools.
How to get involved: Schools in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties should contact the Low Carbon Hub to register interest. They regularly accept new schools into their portfolio and can provide an initial feasibility assessment at no cost.
How to Find a Community Energy Scheme Near You
The organisations listed above represent some of the most established community energy groups working with schools, but there are many more operating across the United Kingdom. If your school is not located within the coverage area of the groups above, there are several ways to find a community energy scheme near you. The community energy sector is growing rapidly, and new organisations are being established every year in areas that were previously underserved.
Community Energy England Directory
Community Energy England maintains a comprehensive directory of community energy organisations across the country. You can search by region, postcode, or type of project to find active groups near your school. Community Energy Wales and Community Energy Scotland maintain equivalent directories for their respective nations. These directories are the single best starting point for identifying local community energy partners.
Local Council and Authority Contacts
Many local authorities have sustainability or climate action teams that work closely with community energy groups in their area. Contact your local council's environmental or sustainability department and ask whether they are aware of any community energy organisations working with schools. Some local authorities actively facilitate connections between schools and community energy groups as part of their own climate action plans and net zero commitments.
Regional Energy Hubs
The UK's regional energy hubs, established to support local energy projects, can connect schools with community energy organisations in their area. These hubs provide technical advice, funding guidance, and networking opportunities that can help schools and community groups find each other. They are particularly useful in areas where no established community energy group has yet focused on schools.
Setting Up a New Community Energy Scheme
If there is no existing community energy organisation in your area that works with schools, it is entirely possible to set up a new scheme. Many of the organisations listed above started with a single school and a small group of committed community members. While establishing a new community energy group requires time and effort, the rewards for the school and the community are substantial and long-lasting. The typical process involves forming a steering group of interested parents, governors, and local residents, registering as a community benefit society with the Financial Conduct Authority, conducting a feasibility study on the school roof, preparing and launching a community share offer, and then managing the installation and ongoing operation of the solar system.
For a full step-by-step guide to setting up a community energy scheme for your school, including detailed guidance on legal structures, financial modelling, share offer preparation, and regulatory compliance, visit our comprehensive community energy funding guide. Organisations such as Community Energy England also provide toolkits, mentoring programmes, and peer support networks specifically designed to help new community energy groups get off the ground. The investment of time in the early stages pays dividends for years to come, creating a sustainable model that benefits the school, its pupils, and the entire community.
Comparing Community Energy with Other Funding Routes
Community energy is one of several routes to funding solar panels for schools. The best option for your school depends on your eligibility, location, and priorities. The table below provides a quick comparison of community energy schemes with other major funding routes. For detailed information on each option, follow the links to our dedicated guides, or visit our cost guide for a full financial analysis.
| Feature | Community Energy | Great British Energy | Salix Finance | Solar PPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding source | Local community investors | Government grant | 0% interest public loan | Commercial investor |
| Upfront cost to school | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Community benefit fund | Yes (5-10% of revenue) | No | No | Rarely |
| Educational engagement | Strong (core to model) | Basic monitoring only | Limited | Limited |
| Eligibility | All schools | State schools only | Public sector only | All schools |
| Setup time | 6-18 months | 3-9 months | 4-8 weeks | 3-6 months |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any school work with a community energy scheme, or only state schools?
Community energy schemes are open to all types of schools, including state-maintained schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, independent schools, faith schools, and special schools. Unlike government grant programmes such as Great British Energy, which are restricted to state-funded schools, community energy has no eligibility restrictions based on school type or funding status. The only requirements are a suitable roof, a willingness to enter into a lease or licence agreement for the roof space, and a community energy organisation operating in your area.
What if there is no community energy group in our area?
If there is no established community energy group near your school, you have two options. First, some national organisations like the Schools Energy Co-operative work across England and Wales and may be able to take on your school even if they do not have a local presence. Second, you could explore setting up a new community energy group with the support of Community Energy England, which provides toolkits, mentoring, and peer networks for new groups. Our community energy guide explains the full process for establishing a new scheme. Alternatively, if community energy is not practical in your area, a solar PPA offers a similar zero-cost model through commercial finance.
How long does it take from first contact to having solar panels installed?
The timeline depends on whether you are working with an established community energy organisation or setting up a new scheme. With an established group that has existing investment capital, the process from first contact to installed panels can be as fast as six to nine months. If a new community share offer needs to be launched, the process typically takes twelve to eighteen months. The longer timeline reflects the time needed for community engagement, legal structuring, share offer preparation, and FCA registration. For a faster route to solar, consider whether your school is eligible for Salix Finance or a PPA, which can be arranged more quickly.
Can a school use community energy and government funding together?
Yes, it is possible to combine community energy with other funding routes. For example, a multi-academy trust might use Great British Energy funding for some schools and community energy for others. A school could also use government funding for the solar panels and community energy for battery storage, or vice versa. The key is ensuring that each funding arrangement is financially viable on its own terms and that the legal agreements do not conflict. Our cost guide can help you understand how different funding routes compare financially for your specific school.
Connect with a Community Energy Scheme for Your School
We can help you identify the right community energy organisation for your school, or explore alternative funding routes if community energy is not yet available in your area. Start with a free assessment to discover all your options.
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